Niger Governor Receives Rescued Pupils and Teachers from National Security Agency

Following their release from captivity, the remaining 130 students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, were turned over to Niger State Governor Umar Bago by National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu.

After a terrifying five-week ordeal, the pupils in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State were let free on Friday.

315 individuals were kidnapped by gunmen on November 21, 2025, including 12 teachers and 303 students. One hundred students were freed on December 7, while fifty students managed to flee soon after the kidnapping.

Journalists were not allowed to talk with the youngsters during the official handover at the Government House in Minna, but the atmosphere was clearly emotional, with some of the rescued students observed crying.

President Bola Tinubu gave the command for the rescue mission, according to Ribadu, who was represented by Major General Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Center.

He said that the Department of State Services (DSS) and soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division, working under the Chief of Army Staff’s orders, made the successful rescue possible.

The Federal Government’s dedication to protecting communities and schools across was reiterated by Ribadu.

In high-risk areas, he continued, state authorities, traditional rulers, and religious leaders were implementing both short-term preventative measures and long-term, community-based security initiatives.